15 benefits of walking for just 15 minutes a day

Chronic pain has been called a silent epidemic. If you’re one of those people battling daily pain the last thing you probably want to do is get up and go for a walk. But researchers found that moderate walking improved chronic pain in people, both in the short term and the long run, even if the underlying condition remained uncured. The pain relief benefits of walking may not be able to cure chronic pain, but it can help you deal with it better.

Check out more pain management tips for everyday aches and pains.

Bone density may not be one of the most exciting health benefits of walking, but it’s an important one. People with stronger bones avoid osteoporosis and all the problems that come with it like fractures, disability and spine shrinkage (seriously, you can get shorter). And the best way to get strong, healthy bones is by doing weight-bearing exercises like running, dancing and, yes, walking, according to a large study done by Oxford. But when it comes to bones, it’s definitely use it or lose it: To keep your bones strong you have to keep exercising. The researchers found that adults who walked regularly had better bone density throughout their lives than their inactive friends.

Here are 30 more simple things you can do daily to boost your bones.

OK, so maybe you won’t have the ability to see through walls, but you can protect your vision as you age by taking a daily walk, according to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience. Researchers found that people who did regular aerobic activity had healthier eyes and were less likely to suffer from problems like retinal degeneration and age-related vision loss. So even if you aren’t Superman, you’ll still have super sight!

Here are some eye care tips your optometrist wishes you knew.

Taking a walk alone can be great for clearing your head or letting off steam, but it also provides a great opportunity to bond with friends and family – far away from electronics and other distractions at home. Even better, you set a powerful example because when they see you reaping in the benefits of walking, they’ll be encouraged to walk more, too, according to a study published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise.

Can’t find the motivation to move more? Here’s how to make walking less boring.

Exercise has been called a “miracle drug” for its ability to help reduce your risk for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and many other illnesses. Let’s be honest, there doesn’t seem to be a single health condition that it can’t benefit in some way. And unlike real drugs, walking has no side effects, is easily accessible, affordable, effective, and best of all, you don’t need a prescription!

Now that you know the benefits of walking 15 minutes a day, find out what happens to your body when you increase that goal to 10,000 steps a day!

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Source: RD.com